An aura like that!! I've never-

Illos, please.

Merric, have you at all been recently very sick?

...I uh, don't think so...

Then have you recently suffered a great loss?

...yes, my mother.

That explains it.

The loss of your mother still weighs greatly on your soul and spirit; I apologize for your loss.

It will take you quite some time to get over it. But I believe your companions will be there for you.

Thanks...

Here. Let me give you a moment of time with your companions.

Illos, walk with me for a moment, will you? We should give them some time.

Yes, abbot.

...

We should be out of earshot now. We can speak freely.

Is what you said true? The aura of sickness, or loss?

I've never seen anything like that before. That color...

I have.

The devil of the winds. Cryostoria.

A distorted aura like that is, however, capable in those who have suffered a great grief.

It's the sign of something overwhelming weighing them down. Strong enough emotions to distort their own magick.

...So what can I do?

For Cryostoria, it was due to an incurable disease he had. For your travelling companion, I do believe it is the death of his mother.

What I didn't say to them was that it can also mean a desire for great evil to remedy that.

Vengeance still clouds his heart?

He's never shown me any animosity. He usually seems fairly... aloof.

If I had to jump to conclusions, I'd guess the devil of the winds was responsible for his mother's death, and although Cryostoria is gone, Merric still needs some form of revenge.

Which, honestly, if I was the Fire tribe after all he did to them, I would want bloody revenge as well.

I do not think he holds any ill will to you, or I, given our dislike of Cryostoria, but I do think he has unresolved anger deep within him.

Is this something I can help him with?

No, I think his friends have the highest chance of reaching his heart. But he has built walls of hatred around it.

Time will tell if he overcomes it, or lets it consume him.